News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Royal Shopgirl weds royal clerk "with pomp"

September 14, 1928

The Chicago Daily Tribune reported today on the marriage between a prince and princess, who live and work in Chicago. It is a "real life romance, composed of the things of which movies are made," that culminated in a wedding at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. It was a marriage "that might have taken place in a palace of the old Russian czars."The priests "chanted the service in Russian, while a mixed choir, sheltered by a screen, responded." The bride and groom held "slim, ribboned candles" throughout the ceremony. At one point in the service, red velvet and gold coronets "were held over their heads successively by seven pairs of ushers." When of all this "royal pomp and circumstance was finished," the bride and groom left the church to be "greeted outside by a group of shopgirls from a loop department store who pelted them with rice."The bride is a shopgirl and her husband works as a clerk in a Chicago clothing store. But it was not the bride and groom's jobs that caught the attention of the press. The bride is Princess Alexandra Galitzine, and her husband is Prince Rostislav Alexandrovitch of Russia, a nephew of the late Nicholas II. Prince Rostislav is the son of Nicholas's sister, Grand Duchess Xenia, and her husband, Grand Duke Alexander.Alexandra, known as Aleka, and Prince Rostislav met in London "some years ago." Earlier this year, the princess came to live in Chicago with her mother.She started working in a local department store shortly after her arrival. Prince Rostislav arrived three months later, and soon became a salesman in a clothing store.The fourteen ushers included the bride's brother, Prince Nicholas Galitzine, Col. Michel Lasaref, Prince Michael Cantacuzene and Adlai Stevenson.After a weekend honeymoon, the bride and groom will return to to their respective jobs. They will reside with the princess' mother at her home, 38 East Walton Place in Chicago.The groom's parents were not present for the wedding.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.